Cluster Technology Gaining Ground

The Alliance is researching and developing cluster technology and currently offers access to two such systems -- NCSA's NT Supercluster (NTSC) and the Univerity of New Mexico's AltaCluster system.

NCSA's NTSC web page offers this view of cluster computing:

"One of the primary goals of cluster computing is the creation of a supercomputing resource that presents a highly usable and accepted programming interface, incorporates very good scalability via a low latency interprocessor interconnect, and provides high bandwith to memory, I/O subsystems and system interconnects. The creation of a scientific supercomputing environment from commodity computing components is a complex task that has been made possible through the resourses available within the Alliance."

In addition to the extensive cluster work being undertaken throughout the Alliance, Cornell University recently announced the Advanced Cluster Computing Consortium (AC³), which serves as a research and IT service consortium for business, higher education, and government agencies interested in the effective planning, implementation, and performance of off-the-shelf systems, software, and tools. The goal of the AC³ is to provide members with both a window into future cluster technologies and help today in implementing state-of-the-art production systems.

For More Information

• Linux cluster Alliance press release
• PACS partners attend AHPCC Linux cluster unveiling
• NCSA NT Cluster Consortium
• NT Supercluster articles and presentations
• High-Performance Supercomputing at Mail Order Prices, an Alliance Access article §